Ishmael Kalsakau Explained

Ishmael Kalsakau
Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
Honorific Suffix:MP
Order:13th
Office:Prime Minister of Vanuatu
President:Nikenike Vurobaravu
Term Start:4 November 2022
Term End:4 September 2023
Predecessor:Bob Loughman
Successor:Sato Kilman
Office1:Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu
Primeminister1:Bob Loughman
Term Start1:21 April 2022
Term End1:4 November 2022
Predecessor1:Jotham Napat
Successor1:Sato Kilman
Office2:Minister of Internal Affairs of Vanuatu
Primeminister2:Bob Loughman
Term Start2:21 April 2022
Term End2:4 November 2022
Predecessor2:Andrew Napuat
Party:Union of Moderate Parties

Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau is a Vanuatuan politician who served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu from 4 November 2022[1] [2] until 4 September 2023.[3] He is the head of the Union of Moderate Parties in Vanuatu[4]

Career

In 2005, Kalsakau was appointed the Legal Counsel of MCA Vanuatu, the Vanuatuan component of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.[5]

Kalsakau was Attorney General of Vanuatu, but resigned the post to contest parliamentary elections.[6] [7] After he lost, he returned to his post of Attorney General, raising concerns from Transparency International.[7] Following the 2012 general election, he alleged that three ministers, including Moana Carcasses Kalosil, engaged in vote buying to secure several seats in Port Vila.[8]

In 2014, Kalsakau was re-appointed Attorney General of the Government of Vanuatu.[9]

Kalsakau was confirmed as Leader of the Opposition in February 2016.[10]

Kalsakau became prime minister in 2022. In August 2023, he reshuffled his cabinet ahead of a confidence motion prompted by opposition to his security pact with Australia.[11] On 16 August, he survived the confidence motion by one vote.[12] The Supreme Court later ruled the motion successful and he was replaced by Sato Kilman on 4 September.[3]

Political positions

Kalsakau criticized a government proposal to introduce income tax to Vanuatu, leading a government spokesman to call on him to resign for "misleading statements".[13] [14]

Kalsakau has expressed skepticism regarding increased Chinese involvement in Vanuatu, as well as a lack of transparency regarding loans from China.[4]

Family

Two of Kalsakau's brothers — Ephraim Kalsakau and Joshua Kalsakau  — were also elected as Members of Parliament in 2016.[15] His father was First Chief Minister George Kalsakau, who was involved in negotiating Vanuatu's independence from France and the United Kingdom.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vanuatu swears in new PM . THE STANDARD . 4 November 2022 . 4 November 2022 . 4 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221104093111/https://www.standard.net.au/story/7970056/vanuatu-swears-in-new-pm/?cs=10265 . live .
  2. Web site: Vanuatu swears in new prime minister after snap election . bdnews24 . 4 November 2022 . 4 November 2022 . 4 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221104175131/https://bdnews24.com/politics/jgrkwrmah0 . live .
  3. News: Needham . Kirsty . 2023-09-04 . Vanuatu parliament elects Sato Kilman as prime minister amid China-US rivalry in Pacific Islands . en . Reuters . 2023-09-04.
  4. News: Vanuatu's potential PM sounds the alarm on Chinese intentions . David . Wroe . . 14 April 2018 . 15 April 2018 . 5 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221105043415/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/vanuatu-s-potential-pm-sounds-the-alarm-on-chinese-intentions-20180414-p4z9m8.html . live .
  5. News: Indigene lawyer, Ishmael Kalsakau was chosen collectively by the MCA Committee based on availability, aggressiveness or energetic, a good draftsman, rate of winning important cases in court, a good lawyer who can face the negotiation process . 2 . MCA Vanuatu Steering Committee Meeting Minutes . October 27, 2005 . Millennium Challenge Account Vanuatu . April 16, 2018 . July 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704035312/https://mcavanuatu.gov.vu/MCA%20CONTENTS/MCA%20steering%20committee/2005/Steering%20Committee%20Minutes%20of%20October%2027%202005.pdf . dead .
  6. News: Vanuatu: Supreme Court decides two important cases with implications for government stability . The case of Kalsakau v Principal Electoral Officer & others was keenly watched as Ishmael Kalsakau, the Attorney-General (and unsuccessful candidate in last year’s general election), challenged the results of the Port Vila election on two grounds. . Tess Newton . Cain . August 2, 2013 . . April 16, 2018 . November 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221106161052/https://devpolicy.org/vanuatu-supreme-court-decides-two-important-cases-with-implications-for-government-stability-20130802/ . live .
  7. News: . Vanuatu Attorney-General criticised for taking back his post . June 10, 2013 . April 15, 2018 . June 18, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180618052414/https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/212769/vanuatu-attorney-general-criticised-for-taking-back-his-post . live .
  8. News: Vanuatu opposition lodge no confidence motion . . July 10, 2013 . 2018-04-16 . 2022-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221106161029/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-10/vanuatu-opposition-lodge-no-confidence-motion/4812050 . live .
  9. News: Kalsakau appointed new Attorney General . May 11, 2014 . Vanuatu Daily Post . https://web.archive.org/web/20180315070641/http://dailypost.vu/news/kalsakau-appointed-new-attorney-general/article_00936d9c-8204-5572-a741-b24e3c964771.html . March 15, 2018 . Minister for Justice and Community Services, Christophe Emelee yesterday confirmed to Daily Post the appointment of Mr. Ishmael Kalsakau as New Attorney General (AG) for the Government of Vanuatu..
  10. News: Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau confirmed Opposition Leader . Jonas . Cullwick . February 18, 2018 . It’s been confirmed, Member of Parliament for Port Vila Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau is the Leader of the Opposition in this new Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu. . April 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180415215723/http://dailypost.vu/news/alatoi-ishmael-kalsakau-confirmed-opposition-leader/article_95666301-06d3-51fc-a510-ffe466665fb4.html.
  11. Web site: 2023-08-08 . Vanuatu PM reshuffles cabinet ahead of no-confidence-motion . 2023-08-08 . RNZ . en-nz.
  12. News: Needham . Kirsty . Vanuatu prime minister survives no confidence motion in parliament . 16 August 2023 . . 16 August 2023.
  13. News: Income Tax for Vanuatu?? . PLN Advisory . Jinita . Prasad . Damian . Kelly . 2017 . Opposition leader, Ishmael Kalsakau, has slammed the proposals, instead arguing that Vanuatu should explore more indirect forms of taxation, such as an overhaul of the VAT. . 2018-04-16 . 2020-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920044101/http://www.plnadvisory.com/articles-and-news/vanuatu-incoming-income-tax . dead .
  14. News: Kalsakau told to voluntarily resign . Fiji Times Limited . October 4, 2016 . Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Vanuatu Prime Minister Hilaire Bule has called on Leader of Opposition Ishmael Kalsakau to voluntarily resign over what he labeled "misleading statements" to the local media, last week. . April 16, 2018 . April 17, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180417023038/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=373309 . live .
  15. News: Three Kalsakau brothers make Vanuatu political history – all elected . January 25, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180415215849/https://asiapacificreport.nz/2016/01/25/three-kalsakau-brothers-make-vanuatu-political-history-all-elected/ . April 15, 2018 . Godwin . Ligo.

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